Templars in Switzerland
Another theme used in The Templar Agenda is the premise that outlawed Templars escaped into the Alps, eventually assisting in the foundation of Switzerland.
The Switzerland theory forms the backbone of a book by Stephen Dafoe and Alan Butler, entitled The Warriors and the Bankers. As part of their investigation, the authors argue that around the time of the Templar demise the peasant communities who dwelled in the mountains were assisted by riders in white. The best example occurred in 1315 when the army of Leopold V of Austria was ambushed by mountain folk on the St. Gotthard Pass. Other evidence includes the similarities between the Swiss flag, a white cross on a red background, almost exactly the same as the Templar red cross on a white background.
The possibility that the Templars situated in the south of France used their geographical knowledge of the Alpine region when fleeing the inquisitors is certainly plausible. Perhaps most interesting is their shared expertise of banking. The Swiss banking system has long been famous for its complex nature, its reliability and secrecy. Curiously, many elements of the Templar banking system do overlap, including the Templar use of safe deposit boxes, a prominent feature of Swiss numbered accounts.
To my mind the greatest surprise was that the duo did not mention any connection with the Swiss Guard. In addition to the Swiss expertise at banking, in the 1400s the Swiss became increasingly famed for their valour and military prowess. Throughout Europe mercenary forces had grown in importance as the Hundred Years’ War continued to escalate. Historically, Pope Julius II employed mercenaries from Switzerland in his war against Naples, marking the formation of the Swiss Guards at the Vatican. The possibility that these Catholic mercenaries owe their heritage to the outlawed Templars is a theme I have picked up on in the novel and, as far as I am aware, has not been put forward elsewhere. In my opinion it is likely that members of the order did seek refuge in Switzerland, their expertise eventually making its mark on the Swiss nation, though the foundation of the nation was already well underway by 1312.
The New World Order
Perhaps the most controversial theme used in this book is the assertion that the Templars not only survived excommunication in the 1300s but also over the resulting centuries have used their power and influence in ways that continue to hold sway over the masses.
This is the New World Order theory: the premise that there exists a shadowy group of individuals responsible for the occurrence of many key events in history, all for the one extreme purpose: the establishment of a one-world government.
Over the years many variations of this theory have emerged. Quite famously in the 19th century a controversial text appeared in Europe entitled The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Though now proven as a hoax, the shockwaves it produced were powerful, convincing many of a true Judo-Masonic conspiracy for world domination. Other secret societies and orders have been linked with New World Orders: notably the Masons, the Illuminati, the Bohemian Grove, the Bilderberg Group, and everything else ranging from aliens to the damn descendents of Atlantis.
In short, most of the conspiracies that have entered the public consciousness over the last seven decades range from the plausible to the stupid, usually bordering on the excessively paranoid. In the case of this novel, the idea was simple. The influence of the Templars, powered by their military wing and banking capabilities, has allowed a continuous manipulation of world events, enhanced by their ability to cloak themselves under the guise of others, in this case the Rite of Larmenius. The concept of the New World Order is itself nothing new. Nor, necessarily, is the idea that the Templars are responsible. Over the course of my research I have found finger pointing at the Templars for their role in manipulating events of history to be not uncommon but inconsistent. The idea has no obvious foundation or creator, and I have looked. If there is a source, it was probably the same people responsible for the Larmenius Charter, if not earlier still. The legend of the man who shouted out before the people of Paris that Jacques de Molay had been avenged I have been unable to trace.
For the interested reader the conspiracy theory in this novel is completely false. Its inspiration came mainly from the various Masonic conspiracy theories, the Switzerland connection and mostly my own ability to manipulate world events for my own purpose!
All of the characters mentioned as Templars in the novel, and their institutions are make-believe. Though I do not doubt that there are some exclusive societies in the world capable of keeping extraordinary secrets, the Bohemians and the Pacific-Union seem as capable as any, I do not believe that the Templar Order continued subsequent to 1312 to form any elitist group with an axe to grind. The agenda in this book is plausible: their demise was unfair and also one of betrayal. In practice, however, the idea that several thousand people could stay in contact in war-scattered Europe and put this agenda into place is extremely doubtful. The best arguments for a new world order exists with the concept that the events and decisions of the people who lead us, and their ideologies, cannot exist without a more complex framework and their effects are leading to the culmination of one major outcome. To my mind, the connection exists only in the eyes of those who see what they want to see.
...besides, the politicians of the West have long proven that they are more than capable of incompetence on their own without the need of a new world order looking over their shoulder. As Keynes once said
‘Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.’
Relics and Idols
The New Temple of Solomon is fictional. The house is inspired by similar houses in Newport, many of which once existed as summer homes of the high and mighty – at least until they ran out of money. The basement is equally fictitious and in truth its appearance is something of a cross between Masonic lodges, church crypts, cathedral side chapels, my vivid imagination, castle dungeons while also taking account of the accusations placed against the Templars prior to their excommunication. One of the most bizarre accusations that cropped up in the trials was that the Templars worshipped a strange head, usually a painting or an animal. In recent years evidence has come to light that the Templars owned the Turin Shroud, believed by the order to be the burial shroud of Christ.
The name associated with the object is Baphomet, a meaning for which is still to be explained. In the case of this novel, the so-called demon, sometimes known as Baphomet, is replaced with Asmodeus, the mythical builder of Solomon’s Temple, a figure of biblical pedigree also deeply entrenched in Masonic folklore. Instead of the Baphomet describing a head, I have swayed toward accepting the views of Dr. Hugh Schofield who suggested the word was created through use of an atbash, a device used to substitute letters for numbers, forming a translation of the word Sophia. In The Templar Agenda the Baphomet is an ancient collection of knowledge, granted only to full Templars, entitled to participate in a baptism of wisdom. The Templar’s agenda is in part inspired by the tales in this book of wisdom. The book is fictional, though it does concur with certain suggestions that arose at the time of the trial.
The other relic of note in The Templar Agenda is the skull and crossbones. Two alleged sources exist here. One, an old Templar legend, describes the story of an evil Templar who desecrated the grave of his mistress, only for the corpse to give birth nine months later to this strange idol, usually called the Skull of Sidon. Another legend, used in the novel, is that loyal supporters of de Molay on collecting his remains after his execution found only the skull and thighbones. Historically, the Templars did use the skull and crossbones on their ships, and graves, as a sign of man’s mortality.
Swiss Banks
All of the Swiss and American banks that appear in The Templar Agenda are fictitious and the real ones I mention are used fictitiously. Leoni et Cie is modelled on a typical private Swiss bank from St. Gallen – many private banks in this area date back to the 1790s or earlier – but every aspect of its business is mad
e up. Their connection with the Vatican is loosely based on Banco Ambrosiano, though Banco Ambrosiano was an Italian bank. The P2 element is also mentioned, though their connection with the Templars is also fictional.
Starvel is a complete work of fiction. The Starvel model is unlike anything else in the world right now. Its size, growth and dominance is used to illustrate the scale of the New World Order influence. Their unparalleled control was also in part inspired by the present banking crisis, brought about in part by the introduction of various legislation mentioned in the novel. In short, Starvel is a company that could exist, its existence a testament to the poor regulation and relaxed political controls that have existed in the West for the past decade. As previously mentioned the subplots involving financial mismanagement and fraud are inspired by historical events, though the way they are included in the novel is for the benefit of the reader and the story rather than to resemble accuracy. Like Leoni et Cie, Banco Ambrosiano was part owned by the Vatican Bank, like Starvel AG, Clearstream was a clearing bank.
Vatican history and architecture
All locations, artwork and descriptions of the Vatican are as accurate as I could make them. I have visited the site and researched it thoroughly. In some cases I have invented locations: the office of Thierry de Courten, for example, I have based on a combination of photographs of similar rooms mixed with my imagination. I have not visited the inside of the barracks or headquarters of the Swiss Guard or the more interesting regions of the Vatican Library or Secret Archives. Quite simply, few have. I have, however, based the study rooms on the real locations as best possible.
Others places
All banks, bars, houses, châteaux and their insides are works of imagination based on similar locations in England, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland and America. Again, all people are made up, as are the business activities. I have attempted to make the background of the novel as realistic as possible, from the train times, car park opening times and in some cases included elements of my own experiences at these locations. Any people mentioned in the novel that bear resemblance with any historical or living person not acknowledged is coincidence.
In conclusion: all the errors in the novel are my own. The basis of the novel is fiction. Its purpose is to entertain, not necessarily to enlighten. If it is the opinion of the reader that this book is not entertaining, then it is the opinion of the author that this book should not be read by anyone.
Acknowledgements
First of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, the reader, for purchasing my novel. I hope that you enjoyed it. If so, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me a line at www.theunknowntemplar.com. Reviews on Amazon would also be greatly appreciated.
I would like to say a big thank you to several people for their input, in particular Steven Sora, Graham Phillips and Scott Wolter for their kindness in agreeing to review the book prior to its Kindle release. Over the past five years I have had the opportunity to visit practically all of the places mentioned in the book. I thank everyone I have met when visiting the key locations on my travels for helping in my research.
Finally I would like to say a big thank you to my family and friends, particularly my parents for the incredible support they have shown me throughout my life.
Without you none of this would have been possible.
x
As the book is a work of fiction I have decided not to include a full biography. For the interested reader, included below are a list of recommended reading on the Templar conspiracy theories and their history.
Barber, Malcolm, The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994
Barber, Malcolm, The Trial of the Templars, (2nd Edition) Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006
Bradley, Michael, Holy Grail Across the Atlantic, Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1998
Bradley, Michael, The Columbus Conspiracy, Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1991
Bradley, Michael, Grail Knights of North America: On the trail of the Grail, Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1998
Burman, Edward, The Templars: Knights of God, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 1986
Burman, Edward, Supremely Abominable Crimes: The Trial of the Knights Templar, London: Allison and Busby, 1994
Butler, Alan, and Dafoe, Steven, The Templar Continuum, Belleville, Ontario: Templar Books, 2000
Butler, Alan, and Dafoe, Steven, The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present, Belleville, Ontario: Templar Books, 1998
Davis, John Paul, Robin Hood: The Unknown Templar, London: Peter Owen Publishers, 2009
Frers, Ernesto, The Templar Pirates: The Secret Alliance to Build the New Jerusalem, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 2007
Knight, Christopher, and Lomas, Robert, The Hiram Key: Pharaohs, Freemasons and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus, London: Arrow, 1997
Madden, Thomas, A New Concise History of the Crusades, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005
Mann, William F, The Knights Templar in the New World: How Henry Sinclair Brought the Grail to Arcadia, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 2004 (originally The Labyrinth of the Grail, Laughing Owl, 1999)
Mann, William F, The Templar Meridians: The Secret Mapping of the New World, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 2006
Martin, Sean, The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order, New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2005
Newman, Sharan, The Real History Behind the Templars, New York: Berkeley, 2007
Nicholson, Helen, The Knights Templar: A New History, Stroud: Sutton, 2001
Partner, Peter, The Murdered Magicians: The Templars and their Myth, New York: Oxford University Press, 1982
Phillips, Graham, The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant, Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company, 2004
Ralls, Karen, Knights Templar Encyclopaedia: The Essential Guide to the People, Places, Events, and Symbols of the Order of the Temple, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey: New Page, 2007
Ralls, Karen, The Templars and the Grail, Chicago: Quest, 2003
Read, Paul Piers, The Templars, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press, 1999
Seward, Desmond, The Monks of War: The Military Religious Orders, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1995
Sinclair, Andrew, Rosslyn, Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2005
Sinclair, Andrew, The Sword and the Grail, London: Arrow, 1994
Sora, Steven, The Lost Colony of the Templars, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 2004
Sora, Steven, Secret Societies of America’s Elite, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 2003
Tyerman, Christopher, England and the Crusades, 1095-1588, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996
Wallace-Murphy, Tim, and Hopkins, Marilyn, Rosslyn: Guardians of the Secrets of the Holy Grail, Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1999
Wallace-Murphy, Tim, and Hopkins, Marilyn, Templars in America, York Beach, Maine: Weiser, 2004
Wolter, Scott F, The Hooked X, Key to the Secret History of North America, St Cloud, Minnesota: North Star Press, 2009
Also by John Paul Davis
Robin Hood: The Unknown Templar
Pity for the Guy – a biography of Guy Fawkes
The Templar Agenda Page 59